Dating101 for Adults
🌹 Confident Connections Start Here
👥 Learn how to date with confidence and safety.
A 9-week group helping you build real-world skills to express interest, set boundaries, understand consent, and navigate healthy relationships with confidence.
A safe and welcoming space to practice real-life dating skills, build confidence, and form meaningful connections. Participants will build real-world skills to express interest, set boundaries, understand consent, and navigate healthy relationships with confidence.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ The difference between friendships, dating, and romantic relationships
✅ What consent looks and sounds like
✅ How to express interest or boundaries clearly
✅ Personal hygiene and how to prepare for a date
✅ What makes a relationship healthy (and what doesn’t)
✅ How to stay safe when meeting new people
Who Should Join?
🧑 Adults 18+ with autism or intellectual disabilities
🗣️ Interested in dating, friendships, or relationships
👥 Able to participate in a group setting with minimal support
📍Located in Durham Region or able to attend in-person sessions
Why Join
💬 Build confidence in talking about dating and relationships
🔄 Practice skills using visual tools and real-life scenarios
🛡️ Learn to protect your rights and set clear boundaries
💞 Feel included in conversations about connection and consent
🧭 Get step-by-step guidance in a structured, respectful space
🛠️ Everyone deserves tools for safe, fulfilling relationships.
Program Details
📅 Virtual Parent/Mediator Training: Week of February 23, 2026
🗓️ Client Sessions: Week of March 2 to April 27, 2026
⏰ Schedule: Weekly dates and times TBD
📍 Location: 900 Hopkins St.TBD Unit 8, Whitby, ON. L1N 6A9
💰 Cost: FREE with DSO Referral / $854.20 without
Registration through the DSO
For DSO-eligible clients residing in the Durham Region make a referral through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) at 1-855-277-2121.
Register by February 16, 2026
Fee: FREE
Due to capacity limits, making a referral through the DSO does not guarantee a spot until Lake Ridge has confirmed your registration.
Fee Based Registration
For non-DSO eligible clients or those residing outside of the Durham Region, a group fee applies. Book a call with the Service Navigator here.
Register by February 9, 2026
Fee: $854.20
Contact Natalie Driscoll for more information: Call 343-227-6822 or email adultgroups@lrcss.com
Eligibility
Participants must be 18 years and older with intellectual/developmental disabilities (ID) or a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Individual Skill Requirements
Joint attention skills • Discrimination skills • Echoic skills • Motor imitation skills • Ability to follow common 1-step instructions • Participate in session with limited caregiver assistance • Safety concerns and challenging behaviour are low and/or caregivers are able to safely manage any challenging behaviour.
Stay in the know
Join our email list or follow us on social media to be notified of upcoming groups.